Rocketing Around the Blogosphere

This time around, my fancy has been caught largely by technology posts, which isnÂ’t unprecedented I suppose.

First stop is Murdoc Online, with his look at Great Lake water levels and a splash of cold perspective to those who need it. Good story, great ending.

Al talks about what IÂ’ve always suspected about pilots. You have to be detail-oriented, level-headed, clear thinking, quick reacting, and have the black soul of DeSade. Quoting Rick Riley:

”I was worried about getting airsick, so the night before the flight I asked Biff if there was something I should eat the next morning.

"Bananas," he said.

"For the potassium?" I asked.

"No," Biff said, "because they taste about the same coming up as they do going down."

And since weÂ’re talking about bodily functions of the output class, hereÂ’s a childish joke that IÂ’ve already told my family, friends and anyone else who would listen that I found over at Mostly Fluff:

Guess who just got back together after a bunch of crap?

My buttcheeks.

Try it on a 3rd grader, theyÂ’ll treat you like the French treat Jerry Lewis.

Next up – and somehow I got my mojo on because this is flowing incredibly well – here’s a story about a French sculptor who created a piece to honor the Americans at D-Day, and the support she received from other French to keep the project moving forward. Thanks Casey, from The Gantry Launchpad for pointing this one out.

Who likes roller coasters? In our family, roller coasters ranks right up there with cheese and hugs on the list of important things in life. Five years ago we took a family vacation dubbed “Roller Coasters and Rockets”: a week-long rocket launch sandwiched by multiple day stays at two amusement parks. Ooo baby ooo baby ooo (you can quote me if you'd like).

So if youÂ’re like us, youÂ’ll definitely want to stay away from LegoLand in San Diego. Read the sad details over at QandO.

Whack-a-Mole. Smack down an elected idiot. Same concept, courtesy of Stephen at Hold the Mayo. My letter is drafted and goes out tomorrow.

So whereÂ’s all the technology posts, eh? Like a centrifuge spinning faster and faster, the weightier subjects all collect at the bottom. Yeah, I know, whatta crockÂ…

Anticipatory Retaliation points the way to a site that shows you how to use your microwave and common household chemicals in the right proportions a nifty little toy to measure the speed of light.

I liked Michael Gross much better in Tremors than in Family Ties.

Bad movie physics. As in bad physics in movies, not physics in bad movies. Check it out and be prepared to howl. Thanks to Transterrestrial Musings for the link.

Remember when I talked about inflatables in space? Perv, IÂ’m talking about this post. Rocket Forge points out that it looks like the Chinese are interested in the technology, and Bigelow has been moving ahead with prototypes.

File this one under 'science fiction': Kim Jong-Il, beloved leader of North Korea, loves golf.

The "Great Leader" routinely shoots three or four holes-in-one per round, the government-controlled media reported.

Take that you running dog capitalist lackeys. Big thanks to Eric of Off Wing Opinion for today's best chuckle.

And finally, just because someone must be last, is a nifty story from AEBrain about Coca Cola and the potential to ruin someoneÂ’s day in a National Security kinda way. The proposed solution would never work, it makes too much sense. Look for revised (and obscenely expanded) rules to be published soon.

So thatÂ’s it. Bananas and butt cheeks, Michael Gross and inflatables, and of course the obligatory BDSM reference from Bondage Rocket Jones. Have fun.

Posted by: Ted at 04:47 AM | category: Links
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Aviation Art

Some of my favorite works are by Dru Blair. Check out his site for some great works.

(more in the extended entry)

more...

Posted by: Ted at 04:40 AM | category: Links
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Who Was Who

I've just finished an oldie-timey humor book called Who Was Who, 5000 B.C. to Date. Edited by Irwin Gordon around 1910, the humor is gentle and good for a smile, but what I found most interesting is the general attitudes and mores of the day that are included.

According to the Foreward:

Who Was Who contains over 500 biographies of those who did or endeavored to become famous.

Mr. Gordon states his policy for accepting corrections - from friends and enemies alike - and notes that the text is protected by the libel laws of both Great Britain and the United States.

Under no circumstance will duels be fought.

Here are a few of my favorite entries:

BACON, Francis, either wrote or did not write Shakespeare.

GOOSE, Mother, a fine old lady who was loved by all, but who told some awful untruths to the innocent.

ROY, Robert, a very wicked Scotchman whom we all hope will always escape the police.

SANTOS-DUMONT, a pre-Zeppelin-Wright air investigator who had enough money and sense to quit before people remarked how natural he looked.

Just for the heck of it, I went and googled "Who Was Who" and came up with several pages of nifty links to explore.

Posted by: Ted at 10:53 AM | category: Links
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Don't Fight The Feeling

TV Land is showing the Flip Wilson Show every weekday evening at 5pm. Awesome.

Posted by: Ted at 05:50 PM | category: Links
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What he said

Rock, Paper, Saddam. Thanks to Curmudgeonly & Skeptical for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 09:29 PM | category: Links
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Sayonara

Marlon Brando.

Posted by: Ted at 12:55 PM | category: Links
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Too good to miss

Bits of an exchange over on the Munuviana group blog, under the title Blacklist Backfire:

CD: Hey, I can't use the word "socialist" in my comments because it contains the word "Cialis."

Pixy Misa: Just call them filthy godless Commies like everyone else.

Posted by: Ted at 06:33 AM | category: Links
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What's that, Lassie? (updated)

No, Timmy didn't fall into the well again. Lassie just wanted to remind everyone that half the stuff in Adam & Eve's catalog can be found cheaper at PetSmart.

Don't believe me? Take the test: Dog Toy or Marital Aid?

Kudos to Rich for pointing this one out.

Update: Ok, home from work. I took the first two rounds and scored 9 out of 14 twice.

Posted by: Ted at 06:20 AM | category: Links
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What if they held an election and everybody came?

Mongolia recently held elections and the resident Communist Party suffered huge losses, to the point that they may be out of power. But the truly remarkable part is that their election had an 80% voter turnout!

Thanks to The Marmot for the story, and to Simon for pointing it out.

Posted by: Ted at 07:18 AM | category: Links
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